Barry Callebaut gains full control of cocoa supplier Biolands Group

Switzerland-based cocoa and chocolate products manufacturer Barry Callebaut has gained full control of cocoa supplier Biolands Group by acquiring the remaining 51% stake.

In 2008, the company purchased a 49% stake in Biolands International, which has been a long-time supplier of certified cocoa beans since 2000.

The latest acquisition is in line with Barry Callebaut’s strategy to become a leader in sustainable cocoa as well as to gain access to individual farmers in addition to cooperatives.

Biolands is one of the leading exporters of certified organic cocoa in Africa, working directly with about 70,000 farmers.

The group operates as Biolands International in Tanzania, Bio-United in Sierra Leone and Biopartenaire in Côte d’Ivoire.

All three units are now fully owned by Barry Callebaut and 143 full-time employees at Biolands have joined the chocolate maker.

Barry Callebaut Sustainable Cocoa vice president Daudi Lelijveld said, "The complete takeover of Biolands brings Barry Callebaut even closer to thousands of farmers committed to sustainable cocoa production.

"We look forward to accelerating our work together with farmers to identify pragmatic and scalable solutions to address the gaps in knowledge, materials and financing which today limit the ability of farmers throughout Africa to realise productivity gains and improve livelihoods."

In March 2012, the company unveiled ‘Cocoa Horizons’, a CHF40m cocoa sustainability initiative, which builds upon its Quality Partner Program (QPP) launched in 2005.

The ten-year initiative is aimed at boosting farm productivity, increasing quality and improving livelihoods in key cocoa-producing African and Asian countries.

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Image: Cocoa beans being handpicked. Photo courtesy of Barry Callebaut.